Multi-spectral imaging using longitudinal chromatic aberrations

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for imaging a target object are provided. In one example, a multispectral imager includes an objective lens configured to disperse light from a target object with a high degree of longitudinal chromatic aberrations along an optical axis of the objective lens. The multispectral imager also includes a sensor configured to capture a whole image of the target object at each of a plurality of wavelengths when at least one of the objective lens and the sensor is moved along the optical axis. Furthermore, the multispectral imager includes a processor configured to analyze intensities of different additive primary colors of each pixel of each whole image to determine which pixels have a correct wavelength.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for imaging atarget object and more particularly relates to multi-spectral imagingusing longitudinal chromatic aberrations.

BACKGROUND

Generally speaking, multi-spectral imaging involves analyzing images atvarious wavelengths of light, such as visible light, ultraviolet light,and infrared light. Multi-spectral imaging can be used in manyapplications, such as for detecting counterfeit currency, detecting thequality of food, and other applications. The equipment used in manyimplementations of actual multi-spectral imaging typically includesspectrometers and/or rotating prisms. These implementations are normallyvery large and expensive. Therefore, a need exists for a more compactmulti-spectral imaging device, especially one that can be handheld foreasy use.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention embraces systems and methods forimaging an object. In one exemplary embodiment, a multispectral imagerincludes an objective lens configured to disperse light from a targetobject with a high degree of longitudinal chromatic aberrations along anoptical axis of the objective lens. The multispectral imager furtherincludes a sensor configured to capture a whole image of the targetobject at each of a plurality of wavelengths, which is enabled by movingeither the objective lens or the sensor along the optical axis. Also, aprocessor of the multispectral imager is configured to analyzeintensities of different primary colors of each pixel of each wholeimage to determine which pixels have a correct wavelength.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method for imaging a target object isprovided. The method includes a first step of optically dispersingmultiple wavelengths of light reflected from a target object so as tocreate longitudinal chromatic aberrations on an optical axis. The methodalso includes a step of determining color intensities of pixels ofnon-sharp regions of a whole image at each of the multiple wavelengths.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplaryobjectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in whichthe same are accomplished, are further explained within the followingdetailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a chart showing the relevant wavelengths ofelectromagnetic radiation being monitored according to at least oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a diagram of a multi-spectral imagingapparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a diagram of an optical imager according toat least a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 schematically depicts a diagram of an image stack according to atleast one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 schematically depicts an image captured at a particularwavelength and exemplary sharp and non-sharp portions of the imageaccording to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6a through 6c depict diagrams of the sensor shown in FIG. 3according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a graph showing the quantum efficiency of the image atvarious wavelengths according to at least one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram of a method of operation of an opticalimager according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the field of optics, the concept of chromatic aberration can bethought of as the result of a lens that fails to focus all colors to thesame focal point. The effect of chromatic aberration occurs because ofthe difference in the refractive indices of different wavelengths oflight. Instead of focusing the light to one point, a lens may dispersethe light.

Additionally, longitudinal chromatic aberration is a type of chromaticaberration in which light is dispersed along a longitudinal axis, andmore specifically, along the optical axis of a lens. For example, a lensthat produces longitudinal chromatic aberrations focuses rays of lighthaving a first extreme wavelength at one end of a spectrum at a certainlongitudinal distance and also focuses rays of light having a secondextreme wavelength at the other end of the spectrum. The presentinvention takes advantage of the phenomenon of longitudinal chromaticaberrations to obtain multiple images at different wavelengthscorresponding to the focal point or focal field of the particularwavelength.

The present invention embraces systems and methods for obtaining imagesof a target object at various wavelengths and analyzing the images todetermine certain characteristics of the target object. The presentinvention may include a lens, such as an objective lens, that isdesigned to disperse light without correcting for chromatic aberrations.Specifically, the objective lens of the present invention may providelongitudinal chromatic aberrations, such that light at differentwavelengths is focused at different points along the caustic, or opticalaxis, of the lens. The present invention may also include a sensorconfigured to obtain multiple in-focus images of the object at thedifferent wavelengths. According to various embodiments, either theobjective lens or the sensor can be moved with respect to the opticalaxis to allow the sensor to obtain the images at different wavelengths.

From the multiple images, an image stack can be generated. The imagestack can then be used to analyze various properties to detectcharacteristics of the object. In one example, specific portions of theimages at specific wavelengths can be analyzed to determine whether ornot printed currency is counterfeit. Also, the quality or maturity offood can be analyzed by observing the absorption spectrum. It should benoted that the multispectral imaging systems described herein mayinclude other applications as well.

FIG. 1 is a chart showing the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiationwithin a specific spectrum 10 according to exemplary embodiments. Thespectrum 10 may correspond substantially to the relevant wavelengthsutilized by the present invention. In particular, with the use of a CMOSsensor or an RGB-IR sensor, the relevant wavelengths being sensed mayrange from about 300 nm or less to about 1100 nm or more. Therefore, thespectrum 10 in this example may encompass the entire visible spectrum,which ranges from about 400 nm to about 700 nm and also includes part ofthe ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, which includes wavelengths below 400 nm,and part of the near infrared (near IR) spectrum, which includeswavelengths above 700 nm.

According to some embodiments, other types of sensors may be used tosense a wider range of wavelengths. For example, some sensors may beused to sense lower wavelengths in the UV spectrum, which includeswavelengths from about 100 nm to 400 nm, and higher wavelengths in theIR spectrum, which includes wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 1 mm.

The present invention may provide a source of light for illuminating atarget object. In some embodiments, the light source may provide a rangeof electromagnetic radiation ranging from about 300 nm to about 1100 nm.Also, the optical systems of the present invention may be capable ofsensing at least the same range as shown by the spectrum 10 in FIG. 1.In some embodiments, the optical systems may be configured to sense agreater range of electromagnetic radiation.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an apparatus 20 illustrating an example of thegeneral concepts of the present invention and more particularly theconcepts of an objective lens that may be utilized in the variousembodiments of the present invention. The apparatus 20 includes achromatic aberration unit 22, which represents an optical system forimaging a target object 24. The chromatic aberration unit 22 includes anoptical axis 26, which defines an imaginary line about which the opticalelements of the chromatic aberration unit 22 are rotationallysymmetrical.

As shown in FIG. 2, light rays reflected from the target object 24 areradiated to the chromatic aberration unit 22. The chromatic aberrationunit 22 optically refracts the rays such that different wavelengths arefocused at different points along the optical axis 26. Morespecifically, the image is focused onto a plane that intersects theoptical axis 26 perpendicularly at a respective point on the axis. Itshould be noted that the depth of focus at each wavelength enables asensor to distinguish a sharp image from a blurred image.

The chromatic aberration unit 22 of FIG. 2 may include variouscombinations of lenses, filters, etc., depending on the variousembodiments. Regardless of the particular implementation, the chromaticaberration unit 22 includes an objective lens that is configured tooptically disperse an image of the target object 24. The dispersion ofthe image includes focusing specific wavelengths of the image atspecific points along the optical axis 26. For example, the chromaticaberration unit 22 is capable of focusing an image having a wavelengthof about 400 nm (e.g., violet) onto a plane perpendicular to the opticalaxis at the point marked “400” in FIG. 2.

Although the numerals “400,” “500,” “600,” “700,” and “800” are shown inFIG. 2, it should be noted that they are not part of the apparatus 20itself, but are shown mainly for the purpose of explanation. Also, theoptical axis 26 is an imaginary line and is also shown for the purposeof explanation. It should be noted that the scale regarding thecorresponding wavelengths at the points along the optical axis 26 maynot necessarily be a linear scale, as shown, but may rather depend onthe characteristics of the chromatic aberration unit 22.

Depending on the configuration of the chromatic aberration unit 22,images of the target object 24 may be dispersed at any wavelengthsbetween about 400 nm and 800 nm. Also, the chromatic aberration unit 22may also be configured to disperse other wavelengths less than 400 nmand/or greater than 800 nm along the optical axis 26.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an optical imager 30.The optical imager 30 includes the chromatic aberration unit 22 havingoptical axis 26, as described above with respect to FIG. 2. The opticalimager 30 further includes one or more radiation sources 32, a sensor34, a motor 36, a motor controller 38, a processor 40, and memory 42.The sensor 34, motor 36, and motor controller 38 may define anauto-focus mechanism. Other types of auto-focus mechanisms may beutilized in the present invention for moving the sensor 34 and/or thechromatic aberration unit 22 reciprocally along the optical axis 26. Insome embodiments, it may be preferable to move one or more lenses of thechromatic aberration unit 22 to enable the sensor 34 to sense the imagesat multiple wavelengths. The purpose of the auto-focus mechanism is toenable the sensor 34 to acquire in-focus images at different wavelengthsby moving either the lens of the chromatic aberration unit 22 or thesensor 34 along the caustic of chromatic aberration created by theoptical system.

The radiation sources 32 define a broadband spectrum source whenconsidered in combination or separately. Therefore, the radiationsources 32 are configured to illuminate the target object 24 with lightat least within the relevant spectrum utilized by the optical imager 30,which may include electromagnetic radiation ranging in wavelength fromabout 400 nm to about 800 nm. As mentioned above, the chromaticaberration unit 22 disperses the light rays based on wavelength. Shorterwavelengths (e.g., violet) refract at a greater angle than longerwavelengths (e.g., near IR) and are focused at different points on theoptical axis 26.

In some embodiments, the sensor 34 may be a CMOS sensing component, anRGB-IR sensor, or other type of sensor, which may be configured to senseelectromagnetic radiation in a range from about 300 nm to about 1100 nm.According to other embodiments, the sensor 34 may include other types ofsensing components for sensing wavelengths below 300 nm and/or forsensing wavelengths above 1100 nm.

The processor 40 instructs the motor controller 38 to cause the motor 36to move the sensor 34 or chromatic aberration unit 22 in a reciprocalmotion along the optical axis 26. In some embodiments, the motorcontroller 38 may control the motor 36 to move in a stepwise manner.Accordingly, the motor 36 may be configured to move the sensor 34 and/orlens of the chromatic aberration unit 22 to a first point where sensor34 can sense the light with respect to a first wavelength, then move thesensor 34 or lens to a second point where the light is sensed withrespect to a second wavelength, and so on. This can be repeated formultiple wavelengths within the relevant spectrum.

For example, the optical imager 30 may be configured to step the sensor34 in such a way as to capture images of the target object 24 withrespect to various wavelengths differing by about 25 nm. When sensed at25 nm apart (i.e., at each tick mark in FIG. 1), the optical imager 30may capture, for example, 17 images from 400 nm to 800 nm. The processor40 may further be configured to store the captured images in the memory42.

Alternative to the auto-focus mechanisms of FIG. 3 involving mechanicalactuators, other embodiments may include liquid lenses, deformablelenses, or other auto-focus devices. In addition to detecting focus orsharpness, the processor 40 is further capable of calculating K ratiosas described below with respect to FIG. 6. Also, the processor 40 may beconfigured to store images in the memory 42 and combine images asneeded. The processor 40 may also include three-dimensional imagingcircuitry for imaging the target object three-dimensionally. Thefunctions of the processor 40 may be part of the hardware of theprocessor 40 or may be configured as software or firmware stored in thememory 42 and executed by the processor 40. In some embodiments,movement of the lens, chromatic aberration unit 22, or sensor 34 alongthe optical axis 26 may also involve actuation of the auto-focusmechanism acting on the liquid or deformable lens.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image stack 46 comprisingmultiple images 48 of a target object. Each image 50 represents a viewof the target object 24 at a corresponding wavelength. According to theembodiment of FIG. 3, the multiple images 48 may be captured at variouspoints along the optical axis 26.

The image stack 46 is a multi-dimensional (e.g., three-dimensional)multi-spectral image that stacks the images 48 acquired at various stepswithin the relevant spectrum. Images are acquired at the wavelengthswithin the relevant spectrum of about 400 nm to about 700 nm. The images48 do not necessarily include every wavelength, but include discretemeasurements within the spectrum.

Once the multi-dimensional image stack 46 is obtained at the multiplewavelengths, various properties of the target object 24 can be analyzed.For detecting counterfeit bills, different regions of the bill can beanalyzed by the processor 40 at one or more wavelengths and comparedwith the corresponding regions of a real bill.

For food quality detection, absorption of various wavelengths can beanalyzed. For example, as a fruit matures, its absorption of variouslight may vary. Therefore, the fruit can be analyzed for ripeness aswell as being analyzed for being past a ripe stage into turning rotten.

Other applications of multi-spectral imaging can be implemented.Particularly, the uses may be especially more convenient using themulti-spectral imaging devices described in the present disclosure sincethe embodiments described herein may be embodied in a compact handhelddevice, such as a handheld scanner or barcode scanner, which representsa great reduction in size with respect to conventional optical imagers.In this respect, a user can easily manipulate the handheld device tocapture the three-dimensional image stack 46 of the target object 24 atmultiple wavelengths.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an image 50 of a target object. The image 50may include sharp portions 52 that include a certain level of in-focusdetail. Other portions 54 of the image 50 may be characterized bynon-sharp features. Therefore, an auto-focus algorithm of an opticalimager may be able to determine that certain portions of the image 50are sharp, or in focus, such as those similar to the sharp portions 52.However, the auto-focus algorithm may not be able to ascertain whetherother portions, such as portion 54, are in focus.

FIGS. 6a-6c illustrate an embodiment of the sensor 34 shown in FIG. 3.As shown in FIG. 6a , the sensor 34 is configured as a color sensor thatincludes a monochrome sensor 60 covered with a color filter 62. Thecolor filter 62 may be a Bayer filter, RGB-IR filter, or other type ofcolor filter matrix. As shown in FIG. 6b , the color filter 62 comprisesa matrix of color pixels 64. Each color pixel 64, as shown in FIG. 6c ,includes two green pixels, one blue pixel, and one red pixel. Therefore,each color pixel 64 is capable of determining the intensities of each ofthe three additive primary colors (i.e., red, green, and blue).

The processor 40 shown in FIG. 3 is configured to receive the colorsignals from each color channel of the color filter 62. The colorchannels, for example, may include R, G, and B, and may optionallyinclude IR. From the color signals, the processor 40 is able tocalculate a K1 ratio and a K2 ratio for each color pixel 64. The ratiosK1 and K2 are defined below:

$\begin{matrix}{{K\; 1} = \frac{I(g)}{I(b)}} & (1) \\{{K\; 2} = \frac{I(g)}{I(r)}} & (2)\end{matrix}$where I(g) is the intensity of green in the color pixel 64, I(b) is theintensity of blue in the color pixel 64, and I(r) is the intensity ofred in the color pixel 64.

FIG. 7 illustrates a graph showing an example of color intensities atvarious wavelengths. At one particular wavelength (i.e., about 500 nm),the waveform of the blue pattern intersects the waveform of the greenpattern. At this point, the intensities of green and blue are the same.Therefore, at the wavelength where the intensities of green and blue arethe same, the K1 ratio will be equal to 1.0.

According to an exemplary operation, the processor 40 may be configuredto first determine the sharp portions 52 of the image 50 and store thesharp portions. Also, the sharp portions can then be extracted from thewhole image, leaving the portions 54 that are not sharp. Since it may bedifficult to determine if the non-sharp portions should be part of theimage, the processor 40 may further be configured to determine the K1and K2 ratios of each color pixel 64 of these remaining portions of theimage 50. By calculating K1 and K2 at each color pixel 64, the processor40 can determine which pixels are at the correct wavelength. The pixelsdetermined to be correct based on the K1 and K2 ratios can also be savedin the memory 42 and extracted from the image 50. The two images canthen be combined to determine which portions are part of the final imagefor each particular wavelength.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 80 forobtaining a multi-spectral image. In FIG. 8, the method 80 includes afirst step of acquiring a whole image, such as image 50, at a firstwavelength. As indicated in block 84, the method 80 includes extractingthe sharp regions from the acquired whole image to obtain a first image.Block 86 includes a step of calculating the K ratios of each of theremaining regions that were not extracted in step 84. The K ratios maybe calculated using equations (1) and (2) described above.

As indicated by block 88, the method 80 further includes the step ofextracting those pixels having the correct K ratios in order to obtain asecond image. Block 90 includes the step of combining the first andsecond images extracted in steps 84 and 88. Decision block 92 determineswhether or not more wavelengths are to be monitored. If so, the method80 returns back to block 82 in which a whole image at the nextwavelength is acquired. If no more wavelengths are to be monitored, themethod proceeds to block 94. As indicated in block 94, after all theimages have been acquired and combined at each wavelength or interest,the method 80 includes executing the step of recording all of thecombined images to obtain a multi-spectral image.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporatesentirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patentapplication publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of theinvention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited tosuch exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes anyand all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Thefigures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawnto scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in ageneric and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An imager, comprising: an objective lensconfigured to disperse light reflected from a target object withlongitudinal chromatic aberrations along an optical axis of theobjective lens; a sensor configured to: capture first data for a firstcaptured image of the target object at a first wavelength; and capturesecond data for a second captured image of the target object at a secondwavelength; and a processor configured to: extract a sharp region of thefirst captured image to obtain a first image, wherein the sharp regionincludes a certain level of in-focus detail; calculate a first ratio(K1) of a pixel intensity of a first color to a pixel intensity of asecond color and calculate a second ratio (K2) of the pixel intensity ofthe first color to a pixel intensity of a third color of a remainingregion of the first captured image; obtain a second image based onextraction of pixels having predefined values of the first ratio (K1)and the second ratio (K2); generate, based on a combination of the firstimage and the second image, a first combined image associated with thefirst wavelength; generate a second combined image associated with thesecond wavelength; and generate a multi-dimensional image that includesthe first combined image associated with the first wavelength and thesecond combined image associated with the second wavelength, wherein atleast one of the objective lens and the sensor is configured to movealong the optical axis to enable the sensor to capture the firstcaptured image associated with the first wavelength and the secondcaptured image associated with the second wavelength.
 2. The imager ofclaim 1, wherein the first ratio (K1) and the second ratio (K2) definethe first wavelength for the first captured image.
 3. The imager ofclaim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a color sensing element.
 4. Theimager of claim 3, wherein the color sensing element includes amonochrome sensor covered with a color filter.
 5. The imager of claim 4,wherein the color filter comprises a matrix of color pixels, each colorpixel comprising two green pixels, one blue pixel, and one red pixel. 6.The imager of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic radiationsource configured to project broadband spectrum radiation towards thetarget object.
 7. The imager of claim 1, wherein the sensor isconfigured to sense electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in arange from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.
 8. The imager of claim 1,wherein the multi-dimensional image is a multi-dimensional image stackof multiple wavelengths associated with at least the first wavelengthand the second wavelength.
 9. The imager of claim 1, further comprisinga memory configured to store the multi-dimensional image.
 10. The imagerof claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to move at least oneof the objective lens and the sensor along the optical axis in astepwise manner to enable the sensor to obtain the first captured imageat a first point associated with the optical axis, and to obtain thesecond captured image at a second point associated with the opticalaxis.
 11. A method for imaging a target object, the method comprisingthe steps of: optically dispersing, with an objective lens, multiplewavelengths of light reflected from the target object so as to createlongitudinal chromatic aberrations on an optical axis; capturing, with asensor, first data for a first captured image of the target object at afirst wavelength; capturing, with the sensor, second data for a secondcaptured image of the target object at a second wavelength; extracting asharp region of the first captured image to obtain a first image,wherein the sharp region includes a certain level of in-focus detail;calculating a first ratio (K1) of a pixel intensity of a first color toa pixel intensity of a second color and calculate a second ratio (K2) ofthe pixel intensity of the first color to a pixel intensity of a thirdcolor of a remaining region of the first captured image; obtaining asecond image based on extraction of pixels having predefined values ofthe first ratio (K1) and the second ratio (K2); generating, based on acombination of the first image and the second image, a first combinedimage associated with the first wavelength; generating a second combinedimage associated with the second wavelength; and generating amulti-dimensional image that includes the first combined imageassociated with the first wavelength and the second combined imageassociated with the second wavelength.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein at least the first ratio (K1) and the second ratio (K2) definethe first wavelength for the first captured image.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the capturing the first data for the first capturedimage comprises capturing the first data at a first point along theoptical axis, and wherein the capturing the second data for the secondcaptured image comprises capturing the second data at a second pointalong the optical axis.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein thecapturing the first data for the first captured image comprises movingat least one of the objective lens and the sensor along the opticalaxis.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the generating themulti-dimensional image comprises generating a multi-dimensional imagestack of multiple in-focus images associated with at least the firstwavelength and the second wavelength.